8 Easy Pink Eye Treatment You Can Try at Home

Children and adults can get pink eye, especially when they are exposed to environments like schools and offices.

Since pink eye is contagious, small populated spaces like classrooms and offices are a pretty good place to get infected.

However, you’ll be surprised to know that pink eye treatment is actually pretty easy.

As contagious as pink eye may be, it actually sounds scarier than it actually is.

In fact, it doesn’t normally lead to any serious long-term problems and is pretty easy to fix.

With pink eye, the most you’ll get is an unpleasant experience from a swollen and sticky pair of eyes.

However, pink eye treatment isn’t complicated and there are even a couple of easy home remedies that you can follow. 

What is Pink Eye?

Conjunctivitis, which is more commonly known as pink eye, occurs when there is an inflammation in your eye.

To be more specific, you’ll need a pink eye treatment when there is an irritation on the thin transparent layer over the white part of your eye.

This thin clear layer of tissue is called the conjunctiva, hence the term conjunctivitis.

You can get conjunctivitis from a lot of different reasons, however, doctors use commonly use “pink eye” as a term to identify viral conjunctivitis.

Don’t get confused. Viral conjunctivitis is a type of conjunctivitis that is severely contagious and is caused by different types of viruses.

Since pink eye is a viral conjunctivitis, you should take note that it can very easily spread from one person to another.

3 Main Types of Pink Eye

Like most people, you might already know a little about pink eye and how contagious it can be.

Similarly, approximately 3 million americans get pink eye every year, according to an article by the National Eye Institute.

However, do you know that there are 3 different types of causes for pink eye?

In fact, knowing the type of pink eye can help you choose the more effective pink eye treatment for you or your loved ones.

Viral Pink Eye

You have viral conjunctivitis when your pink eye is caused by a virus, which is similar to catching a cold.

Viral pink eye can easily infect other people that you come into contact with. 

The following symptoms can help you determine if your pink eye is viral:

• Glossy eyes
• Teary eyes
• Starts with one eye and spreads to the other

Viral pink eye treatment is very easy, especially since it normally disappears even without medical intervention.

However, you should avoid infecting other people if you have viral pink eye.

That’s why it’s best that you stay at home and rest your eyes. Additionally, viral pink eye is the most common and contagious form of pink eye.

Bacterial Pink Eye

Bacterial conjunctivitis occurs when a strain of bacteria finds its way into your eyes, which leads to eye irritation.

The notable trait of bacterial pink eye is the mucus or pus discharge from your eyes.

So if you notice an unusual amount of mucus secretion from your eyes, that’s a definite sign of bacterial irritation.

In addition, bacterial pink eye poses more problems than the other types of pink eye because it may lead to severe eye damage if left untreated.

Read this article and be ready for warning signs: WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD HAS EYE PROBLEMS.

If you suspect that your pink eye is caused by a bacterial infection, you should get your eyes checked immediately.

This type of pink eye can cause irreversible and long-term eye damage you don’t have it treated immediately.

With that said, identifying the type of pink eye is as important as the pink eye treatment itself.

Allergy Pink Eye

Certain allergic reactions can also lead to pink eye which is known as allergic conjunctivitis.

This usually happens when tiny particles of dust or pollen irritates your eyes.

When your pink eye is caused by allergies, the first thing you’ll notice is an itchy sensation in your eyes.

As it progresses, your eyes will turn reddish while the irritation becomes more defined. Additionally, you may also feel some itching and runny-ness in your nose.

Read this article if you have eye allergies: CONTACT LENS ALLERGY AND HOW TO CURE IT.

Because this type of pink eye is caused by allergens, you are either prone to it seasonally or all year round.

It really depends on the type of allergen that can trigger your allergic reaction.

For example, if you’re allergic to dust and you work in a dusty environment, then you’re prone to allergic conjunctivitis throughout your year.

However, if you’re allergic to pollen, then you only have to worry about it during certain seasons.

Additionally, allergic pink eye treatment can be similar to how you treat your allergies and we’ll get to that later on.

Pink Eye from Irritants

Aside from the above-mentioned causes, other factors that cause eye irritation can also lead to pink eye.

A few examples of these would be dust particles, chemical gases, synthetic fluids, eye drops, and parasites to name a few.

To put it simply, pink eye treatment is important because conjunctivitis may occur whenever foreign objects irritate your eyes.

But don’t worry, there are a lot of simple home remedies that work as effective pink eye treatment.

Common Pink Eye Symptoms

Knowing the common symptoms of pink eye can help you prepare for the correct pink eye treatment method.

Although, even if the causes and severity of pink eye vary, there are always a couple of common symptoms that you can look out for.

Read on and learn how to identify the early signs of pink eye.

Red Swollen Eyes

If you notice your eyes getting swollen and turning red, there’s a big chance that you have pink eye.

In addition, the swelling and redness would even become more pronounced as your pink eye progresses.

Additionally, your eyes can turn red from minor causes like mild irritations, lack of rest, and crying.

However, the redness that you get from typical reasons usually disappears within a few minutes.

With pink eye however, you get a more defined redness of your eyes that is accompanied with eye strain and other unpleasant sensations.

Tears and Fluid Discharge

Another sign that you need pink eye treatment is when you have teary eyes.

When you have red eyes and your eyes are constantly releasing fluids, then you should definitely consider our easy pink eye treatment tips.

Generally, these fluids dry up on your eyelids when you are sleeping. As a result, your eyelids may tend to get stuck together when you wake up.

But don’t worry, we have the right solution for stuck eyelids in the later part of this article. 

Aside from your eyelids getting shut together from dried-up tears, you may also experience these two types of fluid secretions:

• Yellowish Discharge – is the common type of discharge that is thick and yellowish.
  
  This discharge is the reason for the unusual amount of eye boogers that you get when you have pink eye.
  
  Additionally, this is also the fluid that dries up on your eyelids which causes your eyes to get stuck together.
  
• Greenish Discharge – is similar to your yellow discharge, however, you may notice that it has a greenish or whitish color.
  
  You can typically wipe this off with a damp towel when it gets too irritating.
  
  But, try to refrain from wiping your eyes too much as it may lead to more eye irritation. 

Sticky Painful Eyes

The real issue with pink eye is the discomfort that it brings, which can really give you a bad day.

Pink eye comes with irritating sensations that make your eyes feel sticky, sensitive, itchy, and painful.

You may even feel a slight burning sensation if you don’t follow the correct pink eye treatment. 

Blurry Sensitive Vision

A blurry and light sensitive vision are the final symptoms of pink eye.

Your vision may tend to become a little bit blurry as the swelling and fluid secretions of your eyes progress.

Additionally, you may also find bright lights and digital screens to be irritating to your eyes.

As a result, you should try to rest your eyes and avoid straining them even further.

Pink Eye Treatment

Now that you know how to identify the basic symptoms of pink eye, it’s time for you to find out how to handle it.

Pink eye treatment isn’t complicated, in fact, you can easily do it at home. Just follow these tips and you’ll have healthy eyes in no time.

1. Follow Good Hygienic Habits

Basic pink eye treatment, which is also effective for prevention, is to practice good hygiene habits.

As simple as this may sound, a lot of us usually don’t put too much effort into taking care of our eyes.

As a result, poor eye-care habits can lead to a slower healing process.

Read this article for more good habits: GOOD HABITS TO PRESERVE YOUR EYESIGHT OVER TIME.

When you have pink eye, you can start your treatment by washing your hands with soap and water on a regular basis.

Second, you should have a couple of clean cloth readily available to use for wiping your eyes.

Next, make sure to dispose of your used tissues and other items properly to avoid contaminating other people.

Finally, change your sheets regularly to avoid more contaminants in your surroundings.

2. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes

Rubbing your eyes is the first instinctive action you’ll get when you have pink eye.

However, doing so, and doing so intensely, will only make your condition worse.

As itchy as your eyes may be when you have pink eye, you should have the discipline to avoid rubbing them.

Additionally, rubbing your eyes with dirty hands will surely make your situation worse.

So keep your hands at bay, and continue reading because the next tip will help you deal with the itch.

3. Wipe your eyes with clean cloth

If you have pink eye we suggest that you expect to wake up with your eyes sealed shut.

The tears and fluids from your eyes can dry up as you sleep, which hardens and sticks your eyelids together.

When you find yourself in this type of situation, the best thing to do is to carefully wipe your eyes with a clean damp cloth.

When you dip your cloth in lukewarm water, the dampness will help soften the crust in your eyes.

This will help make cleaning your eyes easy, as well as avoid any more irritation from the dry jagged crusts in your eyes.

Additionally, don’t forget to wash your clean cloth properly to avoid contaminating others. 

4. Cold Compress

Despite all the tears and fluids that your eyes secrete, pink eye can actually make your eyes feel dry and sticky.

When this happens, you can simply use a cold compress to minimize the swelling and discomfort of your eyes.

You can press a cold compress gently on your eyes for a few seconds whenever they pain feels unbearable.

Additionally, you can also use artificial tears to keep your eyes from getting sticky and irritating.

In fact, you can easily buy artificial tears without a prescription. However, you can also ask your eye doctor for similar products that may be more suitable for you.

5. Avoid Digital Screens and Devices

Pink eye makes your eyes weaker and susceptible to stress, that’s why bright lights, especially from mobile devices, can do more harm than good.

A good way to help your eyes heal faster is to avoid staring at bright screens from devices like television, computers, and mobile phones. 

Find out why digital screens are harmful: HOW DIGITAL DEVICES ARE THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR EYE STRAIN.

Using dim lighting at home can also help your eyes relax. Additionally, it would also help if you avoid any activities that can strain your eyes like reading or writing.

6. Don’t Wear Contact Lenses

Contact lenses and irritated eyes don’t match so don’t even think about using them when you have pink eye.

Wearing contact lenses while your eyes are swelling, sticky, irritated will only make your condition worse.

If you really need corrective lenses to help you through your day, we suggest that you use eyeglasses instead.

Eyeglasses are safer to use because, unlike contacts, they have direct contact with your weakend eyes.

7. Antibiotics

Bacterial pink eye poses more problems than the other forms of pink eye. A study by NCBI reports that pink eye caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea can potentially lead to severe eye problems.

Antibiotics can help stop your bacterial infection, however, you must refer to a doctor before you take any medication.

This type of pink eye is very harmful so getting your eyes checked should be your first priority.

8. Allergy Medication

As mentioned above, allergic reactions can sometimes cause pink eye. Your dust or pollen allergies can lead to pink eye problems that need quick solutions.

If you suspect that your allergy is causing your pink eye, taking allergy medication like antihistamin can easily help mitigate your pink eye symptoms.

How to Avoid Spreading Pink Eye?

Prevention is always better than cure and even the right pink eye treatment can’t stop the chances of other people getting infected.

Additionally, when we talk about a problem as contagious as pink eye, we need to put a little more emphasis on learning about preventive measures.

Read this article for some healthy juice recipes: AMAZING JUICE CLEANSE FOR EYE SIGHT THAT YOU CAN TRY AT HOME.

A good start to prevent pink eye from spreading is to stay isolated. Exposure and contact with other people puts them at direct risk of contamination.

So you should stay at home until your eyes heal. You should also make sure to constantly wash the things that you use, especially your clothes and beddings.

Finally, don’t share your items with your friends or family to avoid contaminating them.

Since pink eye normally disappears by itself, your basic concern is to keep your eyes safe from getting worse.

Additionally, our pink eye  treatment tips are effective measures that can help your eyes heal faster.

References:

Facts About Pink Eye

https://nei.nih.gov/health/pinkeye/pink_facts

Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Treatment

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4049531

WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD HAS EYE PROBLEMS

Warning Signs that Your Child has Eye Problems

CONTACT LENS ALLERGY AND HOW TO CURE IT

Contact Lens Allergy and How to Cure it

GOOD HABITS TO PRESERVE YOUR EYESIGHT OVER TIME

Good Habits to Preserve Your Eyesight Over Time

HOW DIGITAL DEVICES ARE THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR EYE STRAIN

How Digital Devices Are the Number One Reason for Eye Strain

AMAZING JUICE CLEANSE FOR EYE SIGHT THAT YOU CAN TRY AT HOME

Amazing Juice Cleanse for Eye Sight that You Can Try at Home